Three-legged cougar put down

An injured cougar, seen near a Coldstream elementary school this morning, has been put down.

Photo: Contributed - Josh Lockwood

The cat did not proactively approach any of the children, but concerned parents called conservation officers, with at least one person saying the animal appeared to be limping.

Officers tracked the animal and found it around 11 a.m. in Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park.

“This one was injured. His front paw was just about torn off and he had multiple bite marks all over it,” Sgt. Josh Lockwood says of the two-year-old cougar.

“It looks like it was in a territorial dispute with another cat. And unable to fend for itself, it was coming into the community in search of pets or easier prey.”

This same cat is believed to have generated calls earlier this week, but until now it had stayed away from the school.

Lockwood says conservation officers also know of another large male cougar living in Kal Lake Park, but so far it hasn’t been an issue.

“People have reported seeing him in the park and killing deer and stuff like that. And that’s exactly where he belongs. He’s fine in there, as long as he doesn’t come into the community.“

This is the third cougar to be put down in the area this winter.